PUBLISHED ANNUALLY
under the direction of “the philadelphia society for
alleviating the miseries of public prisons,”
instituted 1787.
JANUARY, 1862.
PHILADELPHIA:
HENRY B. ASHMEAD, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER,
Nos. 1102 and 1104 Sansom Street.
1862.
NEW SERIES. NO. 1.
THE JOURNAL
OF
PRISON DISCIPLINE
AND
PHILANTHROPY.
PUBLISHED ANNUALLY
under the direction of “the philadelphia society for
alleviating the miseries of public prisons,”
instituted 1787.
JANUARY, 1862.
PHILADELPHIA:
HENRY B. ASHMEAD, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER,
Nos. 1102 and 1104 Sansom Street.
1862.
This being the first number of the new series of “The Journal ofPrison Discipline and Philanthropy,” some reference to the action ofthe Society in relation to the change from a “Quarterly” to an“Annual” may be looked for here. We may, therefore, just say, that theground upon which the change was proposed, and the manner in which itfinally resulted, will be found to be fully set forth in the latterpart of the “Report,” which is the first and principal article in thepresent number. This Report occupies so much space, that the“Editorial Board” have not deemed it expedient to include in thepresent issue much additional matter.
The Editorial Board, in the discharge of the duties assigned them,have prepared the following “Annual Report,” which they beg leave topresent to the Society for its adoption:
Introduction.—This being the first time that an Annual Report hasbecome a part of the regular proceedings of “The Philadelphia Societyfor Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons,” it seems a fittingoccasion to take a wider range than is generally done in thepreparation of such papers; and especially does it seem proper tobring into view the origin of the Society—the motives which promptedits organization, and some of the labors in which it has been engagedsince its establishment, with the fruit of those labors. It will beseen that being but little known in the community, is not because ithas been without vitality during its existence of nearly three-fourthsof a century, but because it has steadily pursued its benevolentcourse, quietly and unostentatiously, not proclaiming its doings, orcoming out before the public, excepting at such tim